Why smashing the pig is not an option

In an attempt to win an iPhone (can you say desperate?) I'm participating in a blogging contest who's subject is ways to teach kids about money. Let's just see how much damage teaching I can do!

Kids today have everything and more. Whether it be a TV in their bedroom or their very own iPod, it comes as normalcy to them. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've walked into a babysitting job and the kid has shown me their room only to be impressed that 1) it's far more technological advanced than mine and that 2) the 4 year old has a TV in their room. To watch Barney.
I live in a predominantly wealthy neighborhood so many of these kids have no concept of where money comes from, let alone saving it. That brand new speaker system you've been saving up for? Yeah these kids just have to say "mommmy can I..." and I can guarantee you that they've got it.

When I was younger, my parents decided to raise me unspoiled as hell like a smart kid, so therefore I learned to save. It started out as a simple allowance of maybe a dollar a week. Into the piggy bank it went. In fact, to get me excited about saving my dad got out his piggy bank from childhood and gave it to me. I still have it and I'll have you know that it is still full of loose change.

I've already started to teach A about saving money, even considering a lesson on financial education (you can never start too early!), the only thing is, she might not get it. Maybe she should learn the values of the pennies I keep giving her first. The one thing she knows for sure though is that after awhile those pennies and nickels will accumulate and eventually be able to buy something.
One way that I try to teach her the importance of money and saving it is through everyday activities. We have monthly mall trips (where she see's me whip out my debit card much too often) and I try to express the importance of saving. We go into one of her favorite stores, Pottery Barn Kids, to try out the toys. "Ooooh look at this! Can I get it?" her little voice asks. Although I'm tempted to buy her the whole dang store, not only would that put me into substantial amounts of debt, but it would teach her nothing about life. Or at least the life that involves money.

So let's say she wants the adorable little felt birthday cake. "see this, it's called a price tag, it tell's you how much it is. What does it say?" She tells me the price, we'll say $10.00. "It's $10.00, do you have $10.00 with you?" I ask her. Nope, mommy only gave you $5.00. 5 is half of 10. That means that you need 5 more dollars to get the cake. I can pay for it now and when we get home, you'll have to give me the money from your piggy bank or you can wait to buy this until it goes on sale later. The girl is smart, she doesn't want to give up her precious pennies so she passes. Now I only hope that she'll be that smart when it comes to things like purses and shoes. Maybe I should take a financial course myself!